Crochet Shell Headband {free crochet pattern}

As I was doing the shell edging on my little girl purse (see the post here), I thought it would make a very nice headband for a little girl. So, after many attempts and some math figuring, here’s what I came up with! It’s fairly simple, but looks so elegant and sweet. There are millions of flower patterns online, but see my post on another headband to craft my favorite flower so far.

Abbreviations

Materials

Headband Measurements

Newborn 13″

3-6 months 14″

6-12 months 16″

12 months-tween 17.5″

Adult 18″

The Pattern

Chain to the length desired, but it must be divisible by 4, then add 3 chains at the end. For example, I wanted to make one for a 6-12 month old baby, so I chained 44, then added 3 at the end, for a total of 47 chains. The example below is for a newborn.

Make sure your chains are nice and loose because you will work on the top and bottom of them.

In the third chain from the hook, work 3 DC in the same CH.

Skip a CH, and work a SL in the next CH.

Skip a CH, and work 4 DC in the next stitch.

*Skip a CH, and work a SL in the next stitch.

Skip a CH, and work 4 DC in the next stitch.*

Repeat from * to the end, making sure to end with a shell (4 DC).

Turn your work around, and see pictures below for continuing on the bottom. Work the first shell into the same chain (but on the bottom) of where you worked the last shell on the top.

After working the last shell on the top, turn your work around and work another shell in the same chain.

Here’s what your headband should look like once you’ve turned it, worked a shell on the end, and started to continue around.

Here’s a close up of how you work the other side of your headband on the bottom. You create a new shell from the shell below it.

The last shell and end should look like this – one shell on the top, one on the bottom. Join the last shell to the first one with a SL. Fasten off and sew in the ends, leaving a tail to sew the headband together.

Comments

I found this pattern via Ravelry and it’s so adorable! I am looking for patterns for my friend’s one month old daughter and this one looks so pretty but still seems simple. I am now your newest follower I look forward to you future crochet projects!

Thank you for visiting and joining, Christine! I checked out your blog, too, and it’s really nice! I also became a follower and saw you’re quite the crocheter yourself. This is a simple project – works up very quickly.

That’s a good question, and I didn’t make it for a newborn, however, for a 6 month old, I chained 44. You need it to be one inch smaller, so I suggest chaining 40 instead. You might even have to do 36, depending on your gauge and yarn. Let me know if you need more help!

Thanks for stopping by and commneting!That’s awesome that you’re hitting the gym 6 days a week. The schedule has been crazy lately so I’ve been trying to just keep up with my usual 5. But I was excited to meet a goal through the Wellness program and just earned a free hour of personal training. I’m excited! And scared! :)Hope to see you back!

Thanks for this : ) super cute! I am just a beginner at crochet, but I was able to understand the pattern and the “turn around” once I read the directions a few times. I am making one for my daughter, due in November. Just a few more stitches left! I also plan on making one for my new niece- she was born at 25 weeks, but is now a 5 LB baby.

Great, thanks for sharing that with me! I’d love for you to email me a picture of your project when you’re finished, or send me one on my Facebook page :). Wow, I can’t believe your niece was born at 25 weeks! Very scary.

Hi Teresa! No, the 3 chains at the end serves as the first double crochet, so it does not add to the length. Yeah, the difference in the length might be our tensions, but it could also be different yarn (assuming you’re using the same hook size I did). You know how different worsted weight yarns can seem very different in size? Some are much thicker than others, but are still categorized in the same weight. So maybe your yarn is a thinner weight than mine.

Yaay! Looked around for a few days looking for the perfect pattern to attempt to match the scalloped scarf I made my daughter. This was very easy (I just starte crocheting ) and came out perfectly. Thanks!

Hi,I also found this pattern via Ravelry. Today I found out that our little neighbor tomorrow will celebrate her first birthday. So I decided to make a little gift to her. That headband was exactly what I’m looking for. I added a flower and I didn’t join to a circle because I want it to be adjustable. I hope 52 stitches to be enough.

Thanks fro sharing your fun little headband. I attached a tie at each end instead of closing it off to make a “hippie” headband for my granddaughter and she loves it!! It only took a few minutes to whip up and they are so cute. I will make more of these.

Love this and it was very easy!! I do have one question I’m stuck!! I have finished all the shells and am a lil confused do I finish it off then sew it together or do I need to somehow connect the ends together then finish off? Sorry just started learning and not sure what to do or even how to see it together if I do finish it off now!

Thank you for this pattern. I found you on Ravelry and didn’t even get a chance to add the project to my queue since it worked up so quickly. I’m going to add a couple of flowers and use it to go with my daughter’s Easter dress.

Just a quick question. After you turn the work, do you work in the additional DC and SS in the same space, or the space on the other side? Because it is a chain, let’s say there are openings on the left and the right. If the right are full, do I fill now on the right or go to the left space?

I have finished two circle on the left space, but it leave yarn in the middle of the circle. In the pictures, you don’t have that.

Just found this pattern and it’s so cute. Never made a baby headband as I have boys but now we are expecting our first grand daughter. So my question is… The chain starts our at 13 inches but when I finished all the shells it’s now 17.5. Is that right?

Hello, Sara, Thank you so much for the beautiful pattern! I can’t wait to make this adorable headband! I plan on making it for an adult, do you think that’s OK? I was crocheting a very cute dishcloth, and one of the volleyball moms said the yarn was so cute that I should crochet a headband instead. I’m planning on making her this headband – the yarn is a cotton yarn, with variegated white, aqua and a darker blue. I’ll let you know how it turns out. Merci! Griselda Z.

Thank you so much for the pattern. I just made it to add to my baby shower basket of goodies. It is so sweet and dainty looking in the light pink and looks beautiful next to my baby blanket with the same shell pattern.